The path to wisdom is not single-threaded. That is, rarely does one individual spark an idea and it leads to wisdom. As Proverbs 12:15 shows, true wisdom comes from Godly counsel.
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.
Why a Fool is Right in His Own Eyes
If you’re like me, you’ve likely witnessed an individual going his own way only to find destruction, delusion, or worse. U.S. residents live in a culture that encourages individualism, but the kind of individualism that is practiced on these shores is often self-indulgent, crass, and brash. We’ve even had presidents, often a mirror of our own idolatrous hearts, with those qualities.
Not only is it foolish to consider only your own ideas and thoughts, but it’s foolish to encourage others to do so.
This type of self-idolizing behavior is foolish because true wisdom considers many points of view. None of us are God. Therefore, we have no reason to believe we have all the answers. To pretend that we do is foolish, arrogant, and idolatrous. Yet, most people in the U.S. are just that.
But what is the alternative?
What a Wise Man Listens To
According to Proverbs 12:15, a wise man listens to counsel. What is counsel? It’s the advice of others based on solid information, experience, and godly wisdom.
One shouldn’t listen to all counsel. Just respectful counsel, counsel that is grounded in reality, reliable information, and experience. We should listen to those who can steer us away from trouble and toward that which is good. For the Christian, that means anyone with grounding in biblical truths. But it could also mean people who have experience in a particular endeavor but may not know the Lord.
For instance, if you want to become a dancer and don’t know where to start, you might speak to a few different dancers to find out what it takes to succeed as a dancer. While a person doesn’t need to be a Christian to provide valuable insight into a single occupation, Christians who are considering those occupations should seek the advice of at least one Christian within that occupation just to be sure one is getting godly counsel. Then, compare that counsel with the advice you are getting elsewhere.
Bottom line: we should never make important decisions based solely on our own judgement. Wisdom dictates that we must seek the advice of others to help our plans succeed.
Allen Taylor is the author of I Am Not the King.